2003 Shell RD hydrocarbon production 2% below 2002

[jmcgowanjm]

Olduvai Theory predicts 2% yearly slide from peak.

http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/news/articles.asp?guid={4B5EF5A8-ACA3-45C9-8270-B34CCD671FA7}&newsid=811835927&symb=RD&sid=42701

By 2000, production had fallen to just under 3.5 million
b/d. Despite maximum financial incentives, the finest
technology in the world and a complete openness to
innovation, the US has been unable to slow, never mind
reverse, this 2%/year production decline. Is there any
reason to think the world will fare any better once peak
is passed?

http://www.asponews.org/ASPO.newsletter.015.php

[Taeger]

1. We need renewables

I don't think we will EVER shed our dependence on fossil fuels in the next hundred years. But what we CAN do is slow our consumption rates.

1) More effort in Energy Star appliances.
2) Raise the CAFE standards
3) Tax incentives for ultra high efficiency vehicles. I would go as far as offer direct government subsidies on the use of Hybrid cars. Also VW has some really super efficient diesel cars. More work in continuously variable transmissions will also help reduce fuel consumption.
4) Government investment in high speed rail as an alternative to regional air and car travel. More high speed rail along commuter routes to help reduce rush hour traffic on interstates.
5) Direct subsidy of government run renewable "energy sinks". Think of it as a strategic "energy" reserve. The government would start building renewable power facilities (similar to the past dam building efforts).
A great one would be wind farms off the coasts and in the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan would be the first since it is 100% in US territory (no treaties needed). Wind-farms would also be great in the high plains.
Solar farms out in the deserts of the southwest. They can be built in such a way to also provide increased protection for natural animal habitat.

Eventually, we could get into the "hydrogen banking" business as a strategic energy reserve. Also, methanol banking would be feasible by taking "free" energy from renewable resources and turning it into fuel additive that can be pumped into the domestic supply whenever necessary.


We are joking ourselves if we believe the oil & gas industry will do ANYTHING to help America in fuel independence. To the contrary. They want to make us as dependent as possible to increase their wealth, power and influence. Is it any wonder that oil men have effectively taken control of the Republican party (in alliance with fundamentalists).


We need real change to make our country independent of the Middle East. That is the true solution to the problem. Eventually, the Middle East will drain up as well.